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Reproductive Organ Development in the Ivory Shell Babylonia japonica and the Rock Shell Thais clavigera

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Biological Effects by Organotins

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Abstract

Results of histological examination of normal differentiation and development of the genital tract and gonad in the ivory shell Babylonia japonica (Buccinidae) are described. The formation of male-type genitalia (penis and vas deferens) in imposex-exhibiting females seems to mimic the normal development of male genitalia in prosobranch gastropods, on the basis of observations using a wild-caught 2-year-old specimen and laboratory-reared juveniles aged 0–24 months. Gonad differentiation was unclear before age 14 months but progressed after 16 months. Both sexes had a complete genital tract and mature gonads at 20 months. However, differentiation and development occurred earlier in females than in males. Development of the genital tract preceded gonad differentiation. Vas deferens morphogenesis in males resembled that in imposex-exhibiting females. Histological examination of the development of male genitalia in imposex-exhibiting female rock shells, Thais clavigera (Muricidae), using specimens from a wild population and tributyltin (TBT)-exposed females in the laboratory, allowed observation of a variety of vas deferens morphogenesis patterns. Taking into consideration observed results both from wild female specimens and from TBT-exposed females in the laboratory, the vas deferens sequence (VDS) index for T. clavigera has been proposed as VDS 1–6, which is a little different from that for Nucella lapillus. Comparison of the differentiation and development of male genitalia in normal males and imposex-exhibiting females among gastropod species implies it does not seem to be strictly regulated: relatively large variation in the differentiation and development of genitalia could occur among individuals, as well as among species of prosobranch gastropods.

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Abbreviations

AFS Convention:

the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships

DMSO:

dimethyl sulfoxide

EDCs:

endocrine-disrupting chemicals

H&E:

hematoxylin and eosin

IMO:

International Maritime Organization

OECD:

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development

9cRA:

9-cis retinoic acid

RXR:

retinoid X receptor

TBT:

tributyltin

TBTCl:

tributyltin chloride

TPhT:

triphenyltin

VDS index:

vas deferens sequence index

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ecosystem Impact Research Section, Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2, Onogawa, Tsukuba, 305-8506, Japan

    Toshihiro Horiguchi Ph.D.

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  1. Toshihiro Horiguchi Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Toshihiro Horiguchi Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan

    Toshihiro Horiguchi

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Horiguchi, T. (2017). Reproductive Organ Development in the Ivory Shell Babylonia japonica and the Rock Shell Thais clavigera . In: Horiguchi, T. (eds) Biological Effects by Organotins. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-56451-5_11

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